Dallas Cowboys DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Tolbert appears ready to have a big season, according to Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. "Tolbert looks the part of an NFL receiver now after a few early-career hiccups," they wrote. "[Dak] Prescott looks his way early and often in practice. Look for a big Year 3 for him." Tolbert appeared in all 17 games last season, making six starts along the way. He ultimately caught 22 passes for 268 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Now, the 25-year-old is competing for the No. 3 receiver role with Jalen Brooks, and it sounds like Tolbert might have the early advantage. Even if he's stuck playing behind CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks, Tolbert could display some fantasy relevance given that the Cowboys have a successful offense and are expected to throw the ball a lot. He's an intriguing end-of-draft option in deeper redraft leagues.

The Dallas Cowboys announced on Friday that quarterback Dak Prescott (ankle) was given a precautionary day off at training camp on Friday due to ankles soreness. It should be nothing to worry about, but Prescott is also not expected to play in Sunday's preseason opener versus the Los Angeles Rams. The 31-year-old continues to manage occasional ankle soreness stemming from his broken ankle several years ago and also caused a stir back in early July when he was seen wearing a protective walking boot on his right foot while on vacation. Prescott continues to maintain that he'll be a full-go for the start of the regular season in Week 1 against the Cleveland Browns despite not getting a long-term contract extension as he heads into the final year of his current deal. He had the best year of his career in 2023 but has a lower floor and ceiling than most big-name QBs because of his lack of rushing numbers.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is unlikely to play in the preseason, but if they had to play a regular-season game, he said he'd be ready. "I'm going into Year 9, I've had a lot of experience," Prescott said Thursday. "I think all of that carries into my confidence to say I could play a game right now." The Cowboys held a joint practice with the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday, and Prescott looked sharp in his team-drill work against the Rams' first-team defense, completing several passes to wide receiver Jalen Tolbert and tight end Jake Ferguson. With All-Pro wideout CeeDee Lamb not practicing, his top target was veteran receiver Brandin Cooks. The 31-year-old three-time Pro Bowler was the runner-up for the NFL MVP Award in 2023, leading the league with 36 passing touchdowns and 410 completions in 17 appearances. Prescott is a midrange QB1 pick in fantasy drafts after the top-tier options are off the board.

Dallas Cowboys running backs Ezekiel Elliott and Rico Dowdle have both gotten their share of first-team reps in training camp this summer. In the joint scrimmage with the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday, Dowdle looked very good with his opportunities. With that said, it might've been the best day of camp so far for Elliott, who was decisive in his cuts. His burst was on display as well to hit running lanes and quickly make it to the second and, at times, to the third level of the defense. Dallas' backfield is becoming a compelling storyline to watch for fantasy managers entering 2024, and Sunday's preseason opener against the Rams should help provide some clarity on this situation. As it stands, Elliott should be deemed the early favorite to lead Cowboys backs in snaps and carries this season, as his value in pass protection figures to be invaluable, while Dowdle remains a late-round sleeper with plenty of upside.

When asked about contract talks regarding star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb on Thursday, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said he doesn't "have any urgency to get it done." This standoffish stance paints a drastically different picture than Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones did just two weeks back when he said a new offer had been sent and conversations were good. It's an interesting development for Dallas, as Lamb has missed voluntary workouts and mandatory minicamp and is yet to attend training camp despite being subject to fines. Jones' comments swiftly made their way to the Cowboys' fifth-year wideout, and his response was a wry "lol." Even Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott said, "I got urgency for it to happen." It would appear there is some turmoil in Dallas -- at least for the time being -- and while it is likely that Lamb ends his holdout at some point before the season, there is some risk here as he has yet to participate in any football action. The University of Oklahoma alum is currently the second pick off the boards in NFFC ADP as the 1.02 behind running back Christian McCaffrey.